Quaint, amusing, extravagant

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 6, Issue 242, 17 May 1988, Page 6

Quaint, amusing, extravagant

by

Dennis

Beytagh

Eighty years ago, on May 18 1908, the Waimarino County Call published the following stories which Bulletin readers of today will no doubt find informative, quaint, amusing and even extravagant. Rangataua: "Each week sees this place progressing...in fact we are near a boom. The building of many residences for the railway and private people is going forward merrily and soon several houses will be occupied. The engineer who is to take charge of the construction of the large timber-preserving works is expected here early this week and keen interest is buing aroused by this enterprise which all are hoping will be a great success. The railway traffic at the local station has greatly increased of late and the staff have some difficulty coping with it. One day last week one train brought in 27 bucks of goods and stock and nearly every day now stock is being brought from the southern stock centres and sent on to the Waikato district. The work of metalling the railway yards has been commenced and preparations for the construction of sheep and cattle yards are now being made.

Our new blacksmith, Mr J.S. McDonald, arrived last week and has commenced business. The establishment of a blacksmith's shop in Rangataua will prove a great service to sawmillers and settlers. Timber from five sawmills is now being carted along the road to the Rangataua Station." Dairying: "Dairying is rapidly becoming a staple industry along thb Main Trunk Line. Although the present season has been rather a bad one the indications are that butterproducing is going to grow by leaps and bounds when the railway is through. The Taihape Dairy Company has had a

large increase in its milk supply which will be augmented as the bush comes down and the factory there is expected to become the largest in the North Island. An interesting fact in connection with this factory is that home-separated cream, detested by experts, is taken in and so far the butter has turned out first grade. With the advent of the railway, the Raetihi Dairy is now able to send its butter by rail to Wellington. Formerly it had to be carted to Pipiriki, taken from there down the river to Wanganui by boat and then by rail to the grading stores at Patea. The saving in cost of working is

there fore very great." Pioneer signwriter: "Mr W. Wilkinson, the pioneer sign-writer and house decorator of Ohakune, is not relaxing in his efforts to give every satisfaction. By way of extending his business, Mr Wilkinson is now importing all his own materials and has engaged an expert tradesman in the person of Mr W. Green who has extensive practical experience in all branches of signwriting in all cities of the Dominion. Ohakune residents now have at their disposal a tradesman who

is prepared to execute orders for marbling, graining, gold and silver writing, house decorating and painting at the very lowest prices and in a style which cannot be surpassed in the whole Dominion." (Advert). Overseas Cable News: "Matilda Gorlano, a girl who took poison at Bologna, Italy, left a letter explaining that she has been driven to despair by her sweetheart's confession that his curly black hair was not natural and that he used curling tongs every morning."